SARE-PDP
9th- 10th YEARS IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
Southern Region SARE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
STATE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE 2-YEAR PLAN OF WORK
FY 2003-2004
STATE: North Carolina
PROJECT LEADERS:
Names: J. Paul Mueller and John O'Sullivan
Institutions: North Carolina State University & North Carolina A & T State University
NC SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE ADVISORY COMMITTEE:
Marjie Bender (AC Member), 6825 Falconbridge Road, Chapel Hill, NC, 27515, tel 919.404.3708.
Savi Horne (LC & AC Member), Land Loss Prevention Project, Durham, NC, tel 919.682.5969.
John Hart, (farmer), 293 Mirade Acres Lane, Bolton NC, 28423, tel 910.655.8671.
Alex Hitt, (farmer), 9418 Perry Road, Graham, NC 27253. tel. 336.376.3237.
Scott Marlow, RAFI- USA (NGO), P.O. Box 640, Pittsboro, NC 27312, tel 919. 542.1396.
Debbie Roos (CES Extension Agent) Chatham County, NC, Box 278. Pittsboro, NC 27312. tel. 919 5428246.
John Sabella, (Associate Director, NC Agromedicine Institute), 1157 VOA Site C Road, Greenville, NC 27834) tel. 252.744.1005.
Robin Kohanowich, Central Carolina Community College Chatham Campus 764 West Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312 Telephone:(919) 542-6495
BRIEF ABSTRACT:
This present implementation plan for sustainable agriculture is written in the context of the second strategic plan for sustainable agriculture in NC. That plan continues the work begun in the first plan by the North Carolina team of the two land grant universities, NGOs, NCDA & CS, NRCS and interested farmers. Making sustainable agriculture in-service training available for all NCCES Agriculture agents in partnership with the Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is helping to institutional professional development efforts. Key objectives are to:
- Build stronger collaborations among NGOs’, agents, specialists and researchers working in sustainable agriculture by offering specific, in-depth training for NCCES agents and other AG professionals such as NRCS staff through the strong inter-disciplinary, multi-institutional training teams functioning at CEFS.
- Disseminate the research and training information being developed at CEFS (and elsewhere).
- Continue to collaborate in the submission of proposals to Southern SARE and PDP programs (and other sustainable agriculture partners).
- Establish evaluation plans that will provide assessment to what extent objectives have been satisfied.
PROJECT DURATION:
Beginning: May 1, 2003
Ending: April 30, 2005
BUDGET REQUEST: $20,000 per year
PROJECT DIRECTOR:
NAME: J. Paul Mueller
ADDRESS: North Carolina State University Box 7620 NCSU Raleigh, NC 27695-7620
PHONE 919-515-5825 - FAX: 919-515-5855 E-MAIL: Paul_Mueller@ncsu.edu
Training Objectives:
- To continue training within the parameters set by the NC Strategic Plan (2000- 2004) developed with the Sustainable Agriculture Interest Group.
- To continue with semi-annual Sustainable Agriculture Interest Group and sub-committee meetings.
- To conduct new agent training at CEFS (with appropriate materials to assist agents to develop sustainable agriculture demonstrations and programs in their own counties).
- To conduct In-Service Training for Agents at CEFS so as to build partnerships among agents, specialists, researchers and NGOs.
- To continue to provide resources for agents to participate in CFSAs Sustainable Agriculture Conference, the Regional PDP Annual Meeting, the Southern SAWG and other appropriate meetings.
- To explore and develop appropriate materials and conduct training in participatory
research that brings together farmers, NGOs, extension and researchers to work on site-specific problems. - To enhance the establishment and implementation of a website for Sustainable Agriculture topics including the dissemination of information pertaining to research and demonstrations at The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) as a collaborative effort among NCDA, NCSU, NCA&TSU, NGO's and farmers to enhance research and education in sustainable agriculture.
- To establish a sustainable agriculture curricula within the higher education system.
- To provide resources for the travel and involvement of the State Sustainable Agriculture Coordinators in professional development pertaining to sustainable agriculture.
Subject Matter topics for training:
Assisting county faculty to develop educational programs that address marketing and development of alternative enterprises such as pasture poultry (turkeys and chickens), organic production niches and rotational grazing, grazing opportunities for dairy, beef and small ruminant producers, hoop house and other sustainable hog production practices. Principles and practices of organic crop production is another key focus area of training. Social issues of sustainability of rural communities through leadership and community economic development will be explored. These training topics will also be coordinated with NGO program efforts and connected to IPM training opportunities during the year.
Timeline:
In Service training for agents external to our system: PDP Workshop, SSAWG and others (January and as announced)
Revise Implementation Plan (February)
New Agent Training, Agent Sustainable Agriculture In-Service training and Field
Day at CEFS (July 2003)
CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference, Phase 3 training (November)
PDP Annual Regional State Coordinators Conference (September/October)
Revised and functioning website for information sharing (September)
Advisory Group meetings (December & August)
Strategic Plan Revision (February 2004)
Training Personnel:
NCSU Campus Faculty: Paul Mueller, Nancy Creamer, Matt Poore, Jim Green, Mike Linker, Steve Washburn, Frank Louws, Mike Wagger, Noah Ranells.
Off-Campus Faculty and Personnel:
Farmers ( Alex Hitt, Stephan Hartman, John Hart)
Jeanine Davis (Mountain Horticulture Research Station (NCSU)
John O'Sullivan, Chuck Talbott, Charles Raczkowski, Keith Baldwin, M.R. Reddy
(NCA&TSU)
Bob Edwards, Debbie Roos, (field faculty of the NCCES)
Robin Kohanovich, Central Carolina Community College, Sustainable Farming Program Coordinator
Scott Marlow, (RAFI- Pittsboro)
Richard Boylan, Area Specialized Agent, Alleghany County.
Training Delivery System or approaches:
Demonstrations and Program Development Workshop
Handouts and information about Programming Resources (New Agent Training)
Sharing and Networking (CFSA Conference and PDP Workshop)
Training delivery approaches will emphasize workshops and other "hands-on" activities. Examples of these activities include the pasture ecology and rotational grazing schools and the organic production curriculum that will use The Center for Environmental Farming Systems and Mountain Horticultural Research Station as venues and other appropriate areas.
Collaborative Efforts:
Programs will be conducted collaboratively with presenters and field staff drawn from NCSU and NCA&TSU faculty as appropriate. Presenters will include NGO staff and farmers as can be arranged.
Documentation Plan:
Even though SARE no longer requires the Event Documentation Form, we will continue to use it as part of the evaluation process.
Institutional Commitment:
Both Land Grant Universities are committed to sustainable agriculture as part of their educational programs. They are working with NCDA&CS for legislative support for the Center for Environmental Farming Systems- a 2000-acre research and demonstration site near Goldsboro, NC.
Evaluation Strategy:
One of the objectives of the revised/ renewed Strategic Plan is to develop an Evaluation Plan that assesses the successes of our process and identifies areas that need improvement. The details of this Evaluation Plan will be a followed and changes in process will be formulated based on the results of that evaluation. It will identify results on farms and in communities brought about because of the training program. The evaluation process will follow up with agents to document the actual impacts of our train-the –trainer process.
Budget (FY 2003-2004):
PERSONNEL |
SARE\PDP FUNDS |
Major Participants |
|
Hourly Labor |
$5,000 |
Fringe Benefits @ 8.3% |
$ 415 |
|
|
Subtotal, Personnel |
$5,415 |
|
|
NON-PERSONNEL |
|
Travel |
$11,500 |
Supplies |
$1,085 |
Other Services |
|
Subtotal, Non-Personnel |
$12,585 |
OTHER |
|
Evaluation (consultant) |
$ 2,000 (10 days@$200/day) |
TOTALS |
$20,000 |
Budget Line Explanation
Personnel
Hourly Labor Student (and/or non student) hourly labor will be used to develop and maintain the website on sustainable agriculture on a regular and timely basis approximately 500 hours @ $10.00 per hour rate.
Fringe Benefits Fringe benefits will be about 8.3 % for hourly labor.
Non-Personnel
Training Materials Training materials to be used for the sessions such as hand lenses, reference books, slides, and for county demonstration materials @ $1,085.
Travel A total of $11,500 will be used to support travel. This is broken out as follows:). In-service training and workshops at CEFS are expected to be a major cost. If agents stay overnight at the Center, then per diem (in state rate) will be supplied. We are expecting to have 50 agents involved in in-service training at CEFS this year (new agents and active agents). Per diem meal reimbursements are $29.50 if the agents stay overnight. Reimbursement for in-state ground transportation will be @ $0.36 per mile. In state travel funds (mileage, meals and lodging) will also be used for travel support for agents and farmers attending local training events such as CFSA annual workshops (approximately ten agents and farmers). In-state mileage was estimated at 200 miles per round trip per participant. Air travel will be used for regional (SARE PDP, SSAWG) and national workshops (California Small Farm, Puerto Rico sustainable agriculture collaboration): five trips @ $599 per trip (air fare (@$350 per flight, and per diem $87/day for out of state travel- five travelers, 3 days per trip). Air travel will be needed to support travel to state, regional and national workshops such as CFSA sustainable agriculture conference, PDP, Southern SAWG and SA coordinators and special SARE training offerings.
Other Services A budget of $2,000 will be used to cover printing costs associated with workshops and to hire a consultant to conduct an outside evaluation of the program activities (approximately 7 days @$200 day).